Indentification of Users and the Community Served

Demographics

According to Census Quick Facts in 2004 the population of Montgomery County was estimated to be 550,063. This was a decrease of 1.6% since 2000. Between 1990 and 2000 the county population dropped 2.6%. According to the Dayton Daily News (3/26/2006), the Census Bureau estimates the county lost 2,118 people in 2005. The Dayton region, which includes 11 counties, showed a 3% increase in population mainly in the southern counties. Suburban growth centered on the interstates, mainly near I-675.

An area of significance where Montgomery County varies from the state as a whole is in the percent of white and African American residents, with African Americans being 8.4% greater than the population rate across the state. The county also has a greater transient population compared to the state figures since 3.2% less were in the same residence between the years 1995 and 2000. The rate of foreign born population appears to be less than across the state except in the area of Asian born. High school graduates and those holding a bachelor's degree or higher is slightly above the state percentage. It is noteworthy that 1.1% more residents have disabilities compared to the state total. This could be because of the high concentration of high quality medical facilities within the county. Montgomery County also has a significantly lower rate of home ownership. The median value of owner-occupied dwellings is lower than the state as is median household income. The county per capita income is 3.5% higher than the state amount. This may indicate that county residents on average make more income than the state average yet live in less expensive housing on the average. The Dayton area prides itself in affordable housing and these statistics bear that out. The strong business and economic base in the region affords above average incomes for many. The people below poverty level at 11.3% is above the state average yet is still lower than other urban centers such as Cuyahoga County at 13.1%, Franklin County at 11.6% and Hamilton County at 11.8%.

Community Trends and Points of Interests

The 2003 celebration of the centennial of the Wright Brothers' first flight has accelerated interest and growth in endeavors related to aviation history in Dayton. Most notable is the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, which celebrates the work of the Wright Brothers and Paul Laurence Dunbar at four locations. Business leaders continue to develop projects based on Dayton's rich aviation heritage, with the aim of increasing heritage tourism.

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (W.P.A.F.B.) continues to be the leading aeronautical research and development center in the U.S. The base attracts many top scientists and fosters extensive contract work in the region, such as the work done at University of Dayton Research Institute and Miami Valley Research Park. W.P.A.F.B. was recently awarded more work while other military bases were closed across the country.

Dayton continues its legacy as the cradle of invention as the area recently ranked 17th in the country for the number of patents issued and fifth in the number of degrees awarded in science and engineering.

The region is still ranked as the top 90-minute air market and is situated at the Crossroads of America - I-70 and I-75.

Dayton hosts diverse industries such as automotive and aerospace manufacturing, information technology, health care, and education. About 3,000 new businesses begin each year in the Dayton area and they range in size from small to large. Several organizations are in place to foster small business entrepreneurialism. Dayton hosts more machine and tool shops than almost any city in the country.

As the birthplace of city manager government, Montgomery County benefits from a tradition of well managed government in more than 16 different political entities. Recent cuts in state funding to local government have caused a greater need for cooperation and efficiency.

Many of the schools in the county have been rated highly by the Ohio Department of Education. Due to Dayton Public School's focus on enhancing academic performance, it has emerged from the status of academic emergency to continuous improvement. The area also offers strong parochial schools and leads the state in the number of charter schools. The number of home schoolers and daycares continues to grow.

The Dayton area's forty-four institutions of higher education, led by the University of Dayton, Wright State University and Sinclair Community College, provide a wide range of technical, professional and academic degrees. These academic resources contribute to the higher than average number of post secondary graduates in the area.

Excellent health care facilities are available and range from large general hospitals to more specialized facilities such as Children's Medical Center, the VA, and Dayton Heart Hospital. Hospitals and related health organizations are some of the largest employers.

Recent or looming closings such as those at Delphi, MeadWestvaco and the UPS air freight hub are of great concern as residents hope the Dayton area can bounce back as it has in the past during other closings.

Dayton is continually revitalizing itself and the latest development is the Schuster Performing Arts Center. Dayton Dragons Fifth/Third Field, RiverScape Metro Park, Second Street Market, and continued growth in downtown housing are other examples.

A strong support for the arts is evident in the success of Culture Works and the many groups it supports such as The Dayton Opera, The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, The Dayton Ballet, and DCDC, to name a few. Visual arts are also bolstered by the success of Dayton Art Institute, DVAC and many other galleries throughout the area.

Metro Parks offers a strong parks system including miles of bikeway paths. It recently announced a new focus on making Dayton an outdoor recreation destination.

The diverse population of the area consists of around 77% white, and 20% African American. The area has growing populations of Latinos, Asians and those of Middle Eastern descent. Appalachian heritage is celebrated. A wide variety of religions are observed.

Citizens of Dayton and surrounding communities enjoy a high quality of life through an abundance of cultural opportunities such as local museums and parks, and special events such as the Cityfolk Festival, Dayton Black Cultural Festival, Vectren Air Show, and sporting events. Many service organizations and clubs such as those supported by the United Way strengthen the community.

Trends affect selection decisions as residents of the county make heavy use of its public library services, borrowing more than 6,000,000 items from the Dayton Metro Library annually. Per capita circulation is consistently among the highest of the major urban counties of Ohio and the nation. To save taxpayers' money, the public library supplements and complements the collections of schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, businesses, and other institutions, but it does not duplicate the full range of materials that these organizations make available to their clientele. The public library serves the large public which does not have access to other libraries and provides a broader range of materials than specialized libraries supply for their limited constituencies. Statewide resource sharing agreements and Interlibrary Loan allow library patrons to request items from around the state and the country. Many patrons now do much of their library browsing on-line in the comfort of their home and visit local branches only to pick up requested materials. Many other patrons still enjoy the friendliness and community feel of their local branch and continue to visit in person.

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